Oh, to Be Erik Soler

So Hans Backe was jumping the gun a bit earlier this week during The Day the Rumors Surfaced when he said the Red Bulls were in negotiations with a designated player.

Erik Soler told the New York Post's Brian Lewis Backe's assessments were "optimistic" and that, you know, this whole designated player business isn't a big deal, in fact, he gets calls about coming to New York, like, all the time.

"The world of soccer is like this; you have ten new names on the table every day. There are so many people contacting us, offering us players. We're a very popular market, even for really good players, so we have a lot of interest for players coming here. So we're trying to figure out what to do."

Yeah, you know, every MLS GM comes into his office to laundry lists of players who want to play for him. And every MLS GM has the ability to pick a player that "is doable ... is right for the team, fits the way we play, (and is good for) the brand." Happens to everybody.